Hurdles. SUCK.

Sigh.


SIGH.


*hangs head*


You know I've been doing my 6 month challenge right? Yeah I'm failing. Or should I say...I tripped over a couple hurdles, cause I Surely didn't jump over them. -__-


I got my hair done yesterday. No I didn't get a relaxer. *side eye* I did get it pressed though. SIGH. I ALREADY WANT TO WASH IT OUT!!  Don't get me wrong its cute and such...especially with the color! I did get some compliments though *whips hair* But then again...when people compliment me a lot on straight hair it makes me wanna do it less. I'm weird like that. We'll deal with that on another time though. lol. But I probably got like an inch off the very back layer and about TWO inches for each section there after. *SOBS* 
I knew that color (to a degree) damages your hair. I know it can make it drier and more susceptible to breakage. This is why I decided to use Aveda brand color instead because its more nature derived/based...whomp whomp, etc, etc. Back to the point Tiffany. I was good on the straightening process all the way up to the blow drying section. I was a little weary because I remembered that homegirl uses a paddle brush. But even That turned out ok. I didn't feel like hair was ripping out or breaking or anything of the sort. BUT....there was Nothing used on my hair prior to blowdrying. Eh. Plenty of folks do that though. In her defense though, she Did spray some stuff (two things actually) on each section before flat ironing. 


FREEZE.


My hair is fine (in texture/density whatever the politically correct term is) but it doesn't not cooperate well without PRODUCT. Like if my hair feels dry when you blow dry it....its not gonna magically get moisture after two different aerosol sprays are put on it Coupled with a fine tooth comb. *drops head* Why can't my hair just be strong and resilient and amazing????!! This hair breaking off or being damaged before the growth can become apparent is BLOWING ME.


You may feel like I'm overreacting and Maybe my hair was in bad condition but you listen here!! I deal with my hair everyday. *point to chest* ME. I freak out when I see One split end and cut it off. I just gave myself a mini trim the other day! [With hair shears. I'm not a retard.]  I use mostly natural products on my hair...DC every time I wash, Try to put my ends away (especially lately), started using Aloe Vera. Sigh. But alas its only been a couple weeks since I started the Hair Growth Challenge. Even though I just got my hair cut in November. WHY ME??!! 

And it seems I'm back to square like...- 3. *cries* If my hair is pressed again in the near future...I am doing it. Make sure there's some kinda lubrication. But whatever. No pressing!! Blowouts only!! And I will try and cut back on those also. I might have to just take that 'L' and put my hair in twists for a while.


Whew. I got tired just thinking about it. Smh.


On another note...All of this is just really making me wanna have long locs. Yes. I'm still on that. And I know the long part isn't gonna be for a Couple a years Anyway...but at least I'll Know that my growth will be practically uninhibited by outside sources (manipulation, bad products...blah blah) What to do. What. To. Do. And I can't have both. *pouts* 


This Sucks.

In other news

I think my hair is changing color to some bronzey like something or other. I want Ash not Bronze dang it! *prays* Please just let it turn out cute tomorrow. Y'all think I'm playing.

Why I'm Not Cut Out to be a Nurse

If you follow me on twitter (@roxie2398) you would've known that my coworkers were talking about me today. Not in my face, but loud enough so could hear. Smh. Oh lets not forget about the comment about homework was just making sure knew that i looked 12. Just in case I forgot. *palms face*
The convo went some thing like this:

• dude: *insert incomprehensible ramblings from dude* 
• lady: "but isn't she so cute?! And her hair, and her little flowers...."
• dude:*convincingly* i don't think she is cut out to be a nurse.
• lady: goes on about my 'cuteness'  smh lol
• °dude: she should be working at Tiffany's or something! <--- -____-
• • Lady: I know right! 
• *high fives!!!* Ok I made that up lol

Fast forward a couple hours...hours....hours....

Dude actually came up to me later and gave me a list of reasons as to why I might not be cut out to be a nurse. (in no particular order)

Reason #1- I'm normal weight.
Reason #2 -I'm cute.
Reason #3-I take care of my patients.
Reason#4 I'm not a bitch.
(I'm sure there were a couple more. #shrug)
And to sum it up.... I mightve wasted 4 years of my life cause this might not be the profession for me.

This is real life. Pathfinder's honor. *salutes*

Jokes aside....seriously...think about it. To anybody that's every worked in a hospital, been admitted in a hospital, visited someone in the hospital....you can attest to a lot of these characteristics being true for nurses. And as arguably the persons most involved in a patients health advancement, shouldn't we do better? And the sentiments above were from Fellow Nurses. *side eye to Everybody* 

AYUDAME!!!! (Help me!!!!)

 Hi loves!! *waves spastically* <-It'll be a word today alright?

Taking pics before the hair meetup

I figured I couldn't go looking Totally crazy. You've already seen the end result though. Sigh.

Now back to the topic at hand. I. Need. To. Make. Some. Decisions. I'm going to a formal event on Sunday and I need your assistance. Yes I have a dress. *whew* (Even though I can't say the same about my sis Amber....[pray church].) I need Shoes though!!! And more importantly....I don't know what to do with my hair!!!!! *insert crying and gnashing of teeth* You guys know I'm doing this 6 month hair growth challenge and the use of excessive heat is one of the things to avoid so...I NEED ANSWERS!!!!!


*cries* Even If I don't have shoes on...hair is gonna make or break Everything. My girl Tai <---Who has awesome, long, natural hair btw<---has accepted my offer of doing my hair in some kinda updo action but seeing that I'm driving in town the same day as the event and she is Also going to the event..I think...there might not be enough time in the day.


What you should take away from this post: Dame` (Give me) some hair style suggestions please!  


Please. I beg of you. Comment. Help me. You're Awesome.

Natural Hair Meet Up (cont)

I come bringing gifts of more pictures!!!!! I made the other post via my phone so I was missing pictures that I actually took at the event. :) Enjoy!!

Me and Summer from YT!! Check out her channel http://www.youtube.com/user/Summyr1988l!! 

The founder of curlynikki.com and her baby G!

Curlynikki and baby G looking at....My Hair. lol

Mahogany Knots in the flesh!

Me and mi hermano!!

Me and the fabulous Lucy from http://lucydazilma.wordpress.com/!!! :) 

Curlynikki meetup!!! (2-18-11)

I. Spend. Too. Many. Hours. On. The. Internet. When I'm not at work I'm on the computer either catching up on blogs or youtube vids on natural hair. This usually takes up the whole day. :/ I'm pretty sure that can't be healthy.
So now that we've established that I need to be be enrolled in Internet Addicts Anonymous....I have good news! I went to my first natural hair meetup on friday! This weekend was the Bronner Brothers Hair show AND Fro fashion week here in atlanta! Natural hair bloggers and youtubers came in town and the founder of curlynikki decided to have a meetup! It was at livingston restaurant and bar downtown...right across the street from the Fox Theatre! I got to meet her and her baby Gia! Theyre So cute!!! :) (i'll post pics soon). The founder of naturallycurly.com was there also and we got free stuff! I have pictures of that! Ha! Enjoy.

Quickly!!

1) Yesterday was Valentine's day. (See http://goingbacktoblack.blogspot.com/2011/02/fwd.html?spref=fb on the New trend for heart candy caption. smh) I worked. I didn't mope...I didn't even have the opportunity to dress up and make people with I *points to self* was their boo!! (Just kidding....kinda) I knew I didn't have work today so I was Straight!! Moving on to...

2)TODAY I got a gift in the maaaaiiiilllllll *singing*....HA!!! LOL. Sorry. This was like the best Valentine's [but not quite] in my Life!! Contrary to [seemingly] popular belief *side eye to my homeboy* Dudes are NOT lining up to talk to me. I promise. lol. Which...is usually ok with me actually. Ion like all that attention. But when Valentine's Day comes around and nothing is Ever happening for you it kinda makes you wonder did Nothing change since Middle School? I mean Geez.

But ANYWAY. My gift was Awesomness and had so many things I Love in it! Twix (my favorite candy that I used to OD on in HS), knee high socks (need I say more? I'm still searching for some Thigh Highs tho...help a sister out!), a adorable stuffed doggie, and a custom floral arrangement of hair accessories!!!! [Hint: I'm known as flower girl at work.] The fact that it came TODAY instead of yesterday just makes everything better....if you didn't catch on the loathe for Valentine's day caption earlier.... :)

Excuse my disheveled writing I'm excited and tired and stuff... Work tomorrow. Booo....

3) Things I like [and you should too]

One of my friends started a blog and its awesomeness!! Music...life..Love...What's not to like?
http://drsusmusiclifelove.blogspot.com/


Reasons why YOU'RE NOT MARRIED.
Reason #1: You're a bitch. Need I say more?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-mcmillan/why-youre-not-married_b_822088.html?ref=fb&src=sp
  

Buh Bye Now!!

Look what I got!!!!!

Yeah I know its the 15th....however, its even better that it isn't! *happy dance*

Now imma get to break my healthy diet with these delicious Twix!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day????

I think I missed the memo on the new caption.

Church Hairstyle

I Thought I posted them from my phone yesterday but apparently I did it wrong and therefore Nothing was posted! :/ After transfers from one phone to the next...I got them!!

Trying something new!

Shout out to Melissa for getting me this and many other awesome flowers!

Back view. *tuck and pin*

Ready for that Sabbath Nap!

Left side view

What do you think?

Hair Dyeage. Explained.

I'm sorry guys. I like blatantly lied to you. LOL. But...a Couple of tomorrows later...I'm here bearing gifts of Pictures!! Yay!!!


Let's try and do a concise run down of what happened when I walked in the Aveda Institute for this famed hair color and the story goes as followed:


Walk in the door at 1005. Go to desk. State name and person that they Told me was doing my hair when I called earlier. Get corrected and rescheduled with inexperienced (even though I didn't know at the time) student. Take tea. [Its delicious guys!!] Take clipboard with attached survey. Put down purse, bottle of water, a tea. Start to fill out survey. Look up cause someone called my name. ..... Pick up purse, tea, survey, and bottled water. Walk ALL THE WAY to the back back of the building as I Feel people staring at...well...my hair. Shrunken natural hair could be very scary. I was a little scared myself! Scared somebody was gonna rip all my hair out! The lady's instructor came out and told her that she needed to blow dry my hair in order to have it straight enough to apply to all over highlights.  RED FLAG. I was just praying that my hair could withstand the abuse that was soon to come. Smh. I tol' her...you might wanna spritz my hair before you try to detangle but...


FYI: WHY I walked up in there like it was a natural hair salon or sum with super shrunken hair I don't know. Don't ever do that. lol. I caught myself tryna to do a prepoo the night before and put conditioner on it and...Yeah. I've never done that before! *note to self* DO NOT try new stuff Right before you make a salon visit. FAIL.FAIL.FAIL.


Black girl had to come and show newbies how to detangle and blowdry after spritzing...like I Said...Homegirl did her section quickly but Newbie I think was new to the whole blow drying with tension or whatever so it took FOREVER. THEN color had to be applied. *tears* Crazy me wanted all over highlights and I didn't want them patchy so the sections were UBER small...and then those small sections were parted in half. I wanted to throw something. 


FAST FORWARD.


After all the foils were put in and removed; my hair was Literally the color of Cheetos. Pause. Imagine. Yep.
Blue/violet based demi permanent color and a prayer later...I got what I wanted!! YAYNESS!! *happy dance*




 

Not too bright. Not Yellow...or brassy. Only thing I wish was that I didn't have them in them starting at my hairline. But Eh. Its all good.

*sidebar* I didn't leave the building till 5. They close at 4. I didn't even get my hair STYLED!!! Yeah.

NEW HAIR!

I actually went to the Aveda Institute today and got my hair dyed. It was LONG, NERVE RACKING, AND DRAMATIC all at the same time. I decided against the red and wanted the sandy brownish look. You would think I was speaking another language or sum....but I digress. I went from my hair looking like the Sunset to...something presentable. YAY!! Since I only paid $45 dollars for 'Dimensional Color' (Highlights on my entire head) which can easily run over close to $200,  and I [correctly] figured they wouldn't know how to do my natural hair, I Gladly walked out the salon with questionable, 85% shrunken hair....down the street to Chipotle to eat away the pain of being in that place from practically open to close for ONLY COLOR!!!. Sigh. The girl doing my hair was So sweet but praise the lord for instructors cause He Knows I woulda been in hiding for the rest of my life with that atrocity. 


I just got finished DC'ing my hair after a Long conversation with the Dr. lmbo I might touch on this later. Don't get your hopes up. Luv you anyway... and I'm about to take out these twists, pray that my hair is still detangled in them, and retwist into smaller sections with my Alma and Olive Heavy Cream Alone. We'll see how this goes. I'm Supposed to work in the morning but uh...its Supposed to snow in ATL and I'm not trying to increase my chances of dying on the road. Not Never.


I will grace you with hair color pics...Tomorrow!! YAY!!!

Bantu Knot Out Night Regimen..and MORE

I forgot that I had planned on doing this post! So we'll keep this short with lots of pictures. *nods with contentment*

Wait for it....

There they are!! I only redid sections of my hair after the Sabbath fiasco.  You should Prolly just redo your whole head. 

My brother's stolen water bottle with water, residual oils, and a splash of aloe vera juice

Put some eco styler on those joints, separate them in the morning and Voila!!

OH!!

Look what I got!!

TA DA! Its a knitted headband/neck warmer my mom randomly brought home for me!! Cool huh?!...*sucks teeth* Well I will definitely rock it. 'crazy hair' and all. Did I tell y'all that's my mom's nickname for me?? A Mess. Smh.

*waves*

Time for a change snitches!!!

OK. Yesterday I was feeling some kinda way. Actually no, I was just outright pissed. But after talking to the ever amazing Amber (interview coming soon! ^_^) I didn't feel angry enough to actually write the post. SORRY! I'm sure there will be plenty more disappointments in my life to share with you guys! *WINK*


Back to the point. Yesterday, between fb and twitter I made it clear that it was time for a dramatic and slightly reckless change. Now, piercings and tattoos may come to mind but uh...*ahem* I'm still in my momma's house. She freaked out when I was wearing a ankle bracelet. NO BUENO. So I just called the Aveda Institute of Atlanta http://www.avedainstitutesbb.com/atlanta-services.php and made and appointment for 10 o'clock tomorrow!! (And to think I was gonna add no-color to my list of things to abstain from *shrug*) The receptionist said she couldn't hook me up with a Black stylist just because I was black...-__- ....Which Actually might not even mean anything since many of 'us' don't know how to do our own hair ANYWAY *side eye*. I'm getting paired up with a Caitlyn who's getting ready to graduate soon and will "do a good job". We'll see. It'll be about $40-45 dollars for dimensional color and wash and condition..blah blah blah. No Trim nuccas!!! 

Case and Point.  [*points excitedly* This is the Lovely Amber guys!]

Hopefully my  hair won't break off....Ok for the record. I've had MANY colors  before. Sometime more than one at a time. (._.) This is how it usually went. Get permanent color/highlights. After a couple weeks of admiration, throw a rinse on it. (red was my normal color of choice). Repeat rinses a couple times a year. Start process over again. I JUST started a semi regular regimen recently so I don't think there will be a problem. And its Aveda color? Its like 90 something organic so I get point right? RIGHT?! Eh.


What color(s) should I get???!!! I'm between a red and a sandy brown something or other. HELP!


*waves*

Day...*counts fingers* THREE

Hey guys!! So its day Three of this hair challenge! :)  I washed my hair...sometime....Uh...Whenever I said I washed it last. So Friday night I lightly sprayed my hair with water and a little Aloe Vera juice, added my Alma and Olive Heavy Cream (mostly to the ends), then when it dried a little (couple secs) I added Olive Oil Eco Styler and twisted my hair in Bantu Knots!!! (Or China bumps...for those unfamiliar with politically correct natural hair lingo. Cause that's how I knew them growing up lol) 


I did them in fairly large sections; I probably had about 15 'knots' total. I took them out Saturday morning for church and Voila!! 

Sorry for the mug. LONG STORY. I promise I smile in real life!

The back view. Hmm....I gotta get a camera that'll actually focus on my Hair and not the surrounding. -__-

Top view. *insert snarky comment here*

Well actually..not quite. I've noticed that I ALWAYS make the sections in the very bottom section of my hair the biggest and it always causes problems in styles like this. Why I haven't learned by now..I don't know. *hangs head* So it was WAY more defined (expect for the mostly straight, slightly wavy row in tihe back) when I took the knots out. I had to break out the blow dryer and concentrator nozzle (shame on me I know....) to stretch the rest of hair out to Try and match the back. Sigh. Then I broke out the mini flat iron and water bottle and....I digress. Listen, YOU will not have to go through that. Just make sure all your sections are roughly the same size!! Hopefully this lasts for a couple days cause I'm trying to detangle (via comb/brush) ONLY on wash days. Let's keep that breakage to a minimum...yeah?


I was TRYING to take a pic of my hair Today..since I redid the back row,  but somehow my webcam software mysteriously disappeared.  So next time! If I get some better pictures I'll just edit the post. Oh the joys of technology.


Next up (or sometime in the near future) OCM!!!!


Till next time! :)

Day...3? 2? IDK. Hair growth challenge ninjas. LEH GO!

Alight folks! I promised pictures!! Brace yourselves. They are ROUGH. Like no lie. One with too much make-up and a couple with none at all. O_O. Oh Well. The point is hair growth right? RIGHT?! Ugh. Enjoy. *eye roll*

 The First two pics were taken at the end of 2010. Now...I (sadly) got a trim at the beginning of November. I'm not sure if these are pre or post. But regardless my hair hasn't grown That much for it to make much of a difference. Let's just say for the record I'm CBL (collar bone length) I can say though that the front of my hair reaches past my nose now! *happy dance* I'm reaching for SOLID APL though! I figure I should at least get that by 6 months with 1/4-1/2 of growth a month. *does mental math* Yep. Please Lord!! Seriously guys. You just don't know. I need to get over this stuck at the same length of hair hump!!

Pics 3 and 4 are of my current hair!! :) A little rough yeah...I'll redo it tonight. Maybe. It looks better in person I swear! *side eye*. Yeah so I just flat twisted blow-dried hair with some leave-in, olive oil, and two different heat protectants. 

I GOT THIS IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY!!!! 

Can you tell I'm excited!! I got a recommendation from a friend and fellow blogger Talisa at Keep'n it Copacetic -http://talisa3636.blogspot.com/ #shamelessplug lol. The ingredients look Really good...water isn't even the first ingredient y'all!! I was told it lasts a long time too! My hair has been breaking like crazy (i think) and I'm effin tired of it!! So [simple] protective styling and minimal detangling is about to be my best friend! Hopefully this product can help me in my journey! A Product review is soon to come!!

Peace, Love and Hair growth!

CHALLENGE TIME!! *Official start date* 2/3/2011

I'm starting a challenge and I want you to hold me accountable!! Kim Coles (from Living Single) has recently done a BC and its proposing a hair growth challenge through Currlynikki.com (LOVE this site). Check out the link!! http://www.naturallycurly.com/kimcolesgrowout :) Now, first let me tell you...I've only done like one challenge; which Might still be going on *shrug*. It was supposed to target excessive shedding and included black tea rinses, vitamin e and increased water intake. Sigh. The only thing I kept up with was the vitamin e...come to find out I wasn't even taking the right dosage! Oh...Well...


So back to this Current challenge. It  "will consist of a balanced diet and sufficient water intake, gentle handling, minimal heat usage, regular deep treatments, and daily moisturizing." *looks at calendar* Uhhh....maybe I should start next week? Cause my diet is just... smh. Well, lemme say this. When I eat food from home its very healthy, well-balanced, and usually doesn't even involve meat. But when I go to Work?! Whole nother story!! And I've been eating out Way too often. Granted...its like a couple times a month but its more than my normal. I gotta Chill!


So I need to STICK TO a regular regimen asap. Consistency is gonna be key in not failing at this challenge!! 


Here's a rough draft:


1) Shampoo/clarify/co-wash
2) Detangle (with condish), twist in sections
3) Add DC conditioner and leave on for 30 mins Max (Cause I just be wasting time y'all...)
4)Rinse, add leave-in, sealant, wait 30 mins
5) retwist/braid in smaller sections
6) Take out in the morning, retwist as needed before starting the process over


I want to be able to do bunning and what not...but Ion have enough hair for that quite yet!! BUT...banana clips are about to become my best friend!! I can have a Real looking pony tail!! *happy dance*


Alright this post took entirely TOO LONG to write! I'll do another post with actual pics of my current hair So I can keep track of my styles and more importantly..hair growth! Right now its just in 6 HUGE flat twists on blowdried hair into a mini bun. Very Basic. 


Anyway...Let's do this!!! *runs around and high fives...all 3 followers* <------Hmm. I gotta work on this.


Till next time folks!!